Clamp and cutter actuating mechanism



H-. HOUSEMAN CLAMP AND CUTTER ACTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 18, I919.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920. I 3 SHEETS-SHEET I I ll Hm l w H xiW z m 9 .J w a M w I- i. a\ ll 23 M'VE/VTOR f/ara /a Ef/ouseznan WITNESS.

zrmmysy.

H. E. HOUSEMAN.

CLAMP AND CUTTER ACTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILE D SEPT- 181 1919.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Harv/d E Houseman H. E. HOUSEMAN.

CLAMP AND CUTTER ACTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLlCATlON men SEPT. 18. 1919.

1 59,250. Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

V 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- kM/JW JITOR/IL'K UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD E. HOUSEMAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO STAND- OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CLAMP AND CUTTER ACTUA'IING- MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NO 16 1920 Application filed September 18, 1919. Serial No. 324,505.

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD E. Housin- MAN, a citizen of the United States, resid ing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Clamp and Cutter Actuating Mechanism, of which the followin is a full, clear, and exact description, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part or" this specification.

The object of my invention is to effect the operation of certain parts of the machine at certain precise times duringits operation and particularly at certain exact transitory points in the operation of the oscillatory mechanism. One of the elements whose operation it is desired to accurately time is the clamping and cutting mechanism. While my invention comprises means for thus exactly timing the actuation of the clamp and cutter, it also, in a broader aspect comprises means whereby the time of operation of any element of the machine may be predetermined with eXacti-tude. The reason why the conventional knitting machine is either incapable of being, or has not been, arranged to effect exact timing of certain of the elements will be developed hereinafter. Preliminarily, it may be advisable to give a general description of the operation of a knitting machine of a conventional type.

The principal parts of a knitting machine are the needle cylinder and the cam ring, the first of which is rotatable while the second is stationary (although in some machines this arrangement is reversed}, means to rotate the needle cylinder, means to oscillate the needle cylinder, a driving shaft, a clutch by means of which the needle cylinder is caused to be operated by either the rotary driving means or the oscillatory driving means, and pattern mechanlsm controlling the shifting of the clutch.

During the knitting of the leg of the stocking and during the knitting of that part of thestocking between the heel and toe (which may he called the foot), the needle cvlinder is continuously rotating and all the needles are down and'in action. At the beginning of the heel or toe, the clutch is shiftedto change'the movement of the needle cylinder to one of oscillation, the needies extending throughout one half the circumference of the needle bed (which may be called the rear bank of needles) are initially thrown out of action, and mechanism is operated to clamp and cut the yarn and cause the needles to take on newyarn. The movement out of action of the rear bank of needles may be effected by providing such needles with long butts and causing a cam to be moved into action to engage such nleedles and lift them out of action. During 1: 1e needles of the front bank are lifted'out of action, one at a time, first at one end of the semi-circumference and then' at the other end, and so on alternately, until only a limited number ofneedles in the central part of the front bank is inaction, thus knitting a flat fabric of gradually decreasing width. This intermittent raising of the eedles is effected by what are known as lifting or narrowing pickers.

The inactive needles of the front bank are now moved down into'action in the reverse order in which they were moved out of action. This operation may be effected by lowering or widening pickers, the lifting pickers beingrendered inactive; or it be effected bythe conjoint action of the liftpickers and lowering pickers, the lifting pickers continuing in action, and the lowering pickers operating to depress two needles at a time. In either case, the result is to knit a fabric of gradually increasing width until all the needles of the front bank are restored to action.

The clutch is now shifted to change the movement of the needle cylinder from oscillation to rotation, the yarn changing and yarn clamping and cutting mechanism is operated and the rear bank of needles, provided with long butts, are moved down into action by means of an appropriate cam.

It may also be necessary to change the yarn and operate the clamp and cutter during the knitting of the circular portion of the stocking, as during the knitting of the leg, or where it is desired to knit the lower half of the foot of double thickness. Various other operations may be required to be effected, such, for example, as changing the length of the stitches at different parts of the stocking, and, at the conclusion of the knitting operation, automatically casting off the stocking, leveling the needles and stopping the machine.

In the conventional knitting machine, the

oscillation of the needle cylinder, the

elements for controlling most ot these op erations are rendered operative by means of pattern mechanism comprising a pattern chain, which is given an intermittent, but regular motion,-and a pattern drum, disk or cylinder, or auxiliary pattern chain, or equivalent mechanism, which is operated, indirectly, from the driving shaft, at irregular intervals dictated by lugs on the pattern chain. The pa tern disk, drum, or the like, carries devices, usually cams, which actuate mechanism to effect the various operations, or most oi them, above described.

In the conventional knitting machine, the positive movement of the pattern disk or drum is ef ected by a ratchet-operating pawl that is actuated by the oscillatory or reciprocatory driving means hereinbetore mentioned. although in the Harry A. Houseman Patents, No. l,2Q6,848, December 5, 1916 and 1,207,757, December 12, 1916, the-opera tion is effected by an eccentric cam turning constantly with the rotary driving means. in those machines wherein the pattern drum or disk is operated by the oscillatory driving means, it is obvious that the pattern drum ordisk must beturned during one or the other stroke of such oscillatory driving means, while. in the Houseman patents above named the cam is so shaped as to impart to the pattern disk a movement coincident in time with that which it would re ceive wereit operated from the oscillatory driving means. 7

It so happens that it is desirable to shift the clutch, change the yarn and raise or lower the rear bank of needlescoincidently with the stroke of the oscillatory driving means, and therefore the conventional operation of these parts by means of the oscillatory driving means is not particularly objectionable. The operation of the yarn clamp and cutter, however, particularly when changing onto the heel or tee, is unsatisfactory on all types of machines. I have discovered that the reason for the detective operation of clamps and cutters is due not to the detective cons ruction of the same, but to their untimely operation, and that far better results can be securd the clamping and cutting machanism is rendered operable when the oscillatory driving means is at its dead center when passing from circular to oscillatory work. I have also discovered thatit is undesirable to operate the ciainp andcutter mechanism, during the knitting of the leg, when the oscillator-y driving means is at its dead center, but that it is desirable to operate it just before the oscillatory driving means reaches its dead center. v 1

The reason for the detective operation of the clamp and cutter when it is operated by, or coincidently with the stroke of, the oscillatory driving means may be briefly ex- 7 plained as follows: The yarn, at this time,

has traveled only a limited distance into the clamp and is not properly positioned relatively thereto. Hence the operation of the clamp and cutter is uncertain, and in any event there is more or less accumulation of particles of yarn in the clamping and cutting mechanism due to clamping and severering the yarn while improperly positioned. If the clamp and cutter are actuated when the oscillatory driving means reaches its dead center, the yarn will have traveled as far as possible into the clamp and cutter, it will be properly positioned relatively thereto, and the action of the clamp and cutter will be reliable and substantially perfect. On the other hand, if the operation of the clamp and cutter, when they are brought into action during the knitting of circular fabric, is delayed until the oscillatory driving means reaches its dead center, so great a length of yarn would be fed to the clamp and cutter, due to the speed at which the machine travels in rotary knitting, that, after, cutting, an objectionable length of yarn will remain in the goods.

It is obvious that if the operation of the clamp and cutter is dependent upon the pattern disk or drum and should take place,

when going on to-the heel or toe, at or about the dead center of the oscillatory driving means, it cannot be so efiected on any machine which actuates the pattern drtun or disk'i rom the oscillatory driving means; nor can it be so effected by any pattern disk operating means which, while operated by the rotary driving means, is operated, as in the Houseman patents above specified, at the same time that the oscillatory driving means is on one or the other of its strokes. it have, however, conceived the idea of not only operating the pattern disk from the rotary driving means, but of providing an actuating cam which will be so shaped that the pattern disk will receive the movement required to bring into play the clamp and cutter, when passing onto the heel or toe, at or about the time that the oscillatory driving means reaches its dead center on the first stroke, thereby eii'ecting the clamping of. the yarn and its cutting at or about the time that the needle cylinder is temporarily at rest. When the oscillatory mechanism has reached the dead center on its first stroke after the yarn change and the change from circular work to oscillatory work, the first needle'which haslooped the new yarn will have moved to its extreme limit of travel and at which time it will have drawn the end or the yarn which was previously between the clamp and cutter beyond the cutter, and thereby prevent shipping the guide plate between the cutter and clamp, they would soon foul the clamp and prevent its clamping the yarn held out of action, and permit their being caught by the needles. This delay in the operation of the clamp and cutter will also insure the drawing of the old thread the maximum distance into the jaws of both clamp and cutter before they are closed. I

owever, in passing onto the heel and toe, it is also necessary, as above described, to shift the clutch to change from rotation to reciprocation, to raise the rear bank of needles, to change the yarn and move the lifting pickers into operation. If, as is usual, any or all of these operations are controlled loy the pattern disk, and if the pattern disk is shifted, as above described, at the dead center of the oscillatory driving means, then these other operations will not occur at the desired time. To overcome this ditficulty, I have so shaped the pattern disk actuating cam that, at each rotation, the

pawl for pushing forward the ratchet disk is given a series (two or more) of separate impulse. If two impulses, one of them occurs during the stroke of the oscillatory driving means, while the other occurs while the oscillatory driving means is at dead center. The cams or other devices on the pattern disk that control the shifting of the clutches, the raising out of action of the rear bank of needles, the actuation of the yarn carriers and the movement into active posltion of the lifting pickers (or such of these I elements as are on the pattern disk) are rendered operative on the first impulse of the pattern disk, while the cam for actuat ing the clamp and cutter is brought into action on the last impulse of the pattern disk. Thus, the timely operation of all these elements is insured.

The development of this conception has resulted in certain refinements which are of importance, in that they have enabled me to operate any element at exactly the ideal time, whether either dead center of the oscillatory driving means or at any time during the stroke of the oscillatory driving means: For example, while it is desirable to operate the clamp and cutter at one dead center of the oscillatory driving means, 1t 18 desirable to actuate'the lowering pickers (for moving the needles into action one at a time on the second half of the heel or toe knitting) at the other dead center. This is extremely desirable, because if the lowering pickers are subsequently moved into act on (during the stroke of the oscillatory driving means) they will start picking from the wrong end of the needle bank, thus preventing an even finish of the heel and toe. In the ordinary knitting machine, either this condition is suffered, or else a more or less complicated special mechanism is. devised specific aspect, involves the (as in the Harry A.'and Harold E. Houseman Patent N 0. 1,127,768, February 9, 1915 to insure a timely operation; In the present improvement, I provide the pattern disk op erating cam with another rise that imparts a special impulse to the pattern disk t that dead center of the oscillatory driving means at which it is desired that the lowering picker shall operate, and cause the cam for actuating the lowering pickers to function during that impulse.

Finally, I may say that it is desirable that while the operation of the clutch shifter, the means for raising or lowering the rear bank of needles, the yarn changing mechanism, the pickers for raising the needles of the rear bank of needles one at a time, and the clamping and cutting of the yarn during circular knitting, shall all occur during the stroke of the oscillatory driving means, it is desirable that the clamping and cutting mechanism, when operated during circular knitting, shall take place nearer the end of the stroke of the oscillatory driving means than in the case of the other elements mentioned.

My invention, therefore,

in its more provision of a cam, actuated from the rotary driving means, having four successive rises; one operative at about one dead center of the oscillatory driving means and which, through lever mechanism and a pawl, gives an initial turning movement to the pattern disk; a second rise operative (say) during the first half or middle of the succeeding stroke of the oscillatory driving means and which, during the same forward movement of the pawl, gives a second turning movement to the pattern disk; a third rise operative (say) during the second half of the same stroke of the oscillatory driving means and which, during the same forward movement of the pawl, gives a third turning movement to the pattern disk; and a fourth 11o rise operative at about the other dead center of the oscillatory driving means and which, as the pawl completes its mhvement, gives a fourth and final turning movement of the pattern disk; the several rises of the cam being separated by concentric portions, whereby four separate and distinct forward movements are imparted to the pattern disk.

It is clear that, by means of this contri'vance, I can control, to a nicety, the exact time of operationof any element whose operation is effected or controlled by any cam or other device carried by, or moving in unison with, the secondary pattern mechanism, whether the same be a disk, drum, cylinder or auxiliary pattern chain; and where, in the claims, I use the expression pattern disk I mean to include an equivalent contrivance. It will be understood,

also, that, by regulating the length and angularity of any given rise of the cam, the speed of movement of the pattern disk may be controlled, thuscausing the element to be ultimately actuated to operate slowly or rapidly, as desired. V

I shall now proceed to particularly describe one preferred embodiment of my invention. It will be understood that the embodiment is one which is applicable to a machine of the louseman or standard type and that the specific mechanism in which I have embodied the invention would not be applicable, except perhaps in part, to machines of a different type without a substantial reorganization of such other machines. It is,-however, within the capacity of the skilled mechanic, by suitable changes in detail, withthe aid of my specific disclosure, to adapt my invention to machines of other types without reorganizing their construction and mode of operation in other respects.

In the drawings; V

Figure 1 is a horizontal section, on the line 11 of Fig. 2, of a knitting machine embodying my invention. a

Fig. 2 is a side view of the upper part of the machine, partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the upper the machine. 7

Fig. 4; is a horizontal section on the line part of t4 of Fig. 3.

r Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the clamp and cutter mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a partial view of the driving side of the machine.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the cam for operating the pattern disk pawl.

On the frame a of the machine is the bed plate for the needle cylinder 6, the cam ring 0 and appurtenant mechanism. The needle cylinder is provided with slots within which are the usual needles. able up in their slots to render them inactive, as is well understood in the art. The cam ring 0 carries cams (not shown) for lifting half the needles out of action and for actuating the lifting pickers and the lowering pickers. These cams and pickers are not shown, being fully disclosed in the Houseman patents of December 5 and 12, 1916, hereinbefore mentioned. 7 r

The needle cylinder 7) has secured to its lower end a driven gear (Z, which is driven, through an intermediate gear 0, from a gear f on the clutch shaft as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1. Loose on the clutch shaft are a rotary pinion c and anoscillatory pinion h. A Clutch 1) is splined on-the shaft and is movable into engagement with either pinion or pinion h, thereby effecting either the rotation or the oscillation of the needle cylinder.

The rotary pinion g is driven from a gear The needles are mov- 2', which carries a bevel geary'in driven en:

- gagement with a bevel pinion 7.0 on the main driving shaft. r

On the shaft 0, carryinggears i and y', are two cams on and a which engage rollers p and r on a bell crank lever .9 (Figs. 3 and a). This bell crank carriesa quadrant t which engage the pinion h and imparts thereto its movement of constant oscillation. This oscillatory driving means is fully set forth in a patent issued to me December 2 1, 1918, No. 1,288,594. 1

The pattern disk 00 is provided with peripheral ratchet teeth engaged by a pawl 3 The pawl 1 is operated at intervals by mechanism controlled by the pattern chain and actuated by the rotary cam, having four rises, hereinbefore mentioned and hereinafter more specifically described.

The pattern disk, in a machine of the Houseman type, controls nearly all the operations of the knitting mechanism. Thus, it is provided, in its periphery, with a grooved cam-way a, which engages, and

lifts and lowers, at predetermined times, an

arm to connected with the clutch o.

The pattern disk 00 also carries cams that control the actuation of the following mechanism the cam (not shown) for liftingthe rear bank of needles out of action at the beginning of the heel and toe and for lowering the rear bank of needles into action at the end of the heel and toe; the pickers (not shown) for lowering the needles of the front bank, one (or two) at a time, during the last half of the heel and toe knitting; the

yarn carriers, which are operated whenever a change of yarn is made, as at the begin ning and end of the heel. and toe and on the leg; and the clamp and cutter, which are operated at each change of yarn. The pattern disk may also carry other cams for dictating other operations. of the knitting mechanism, including the cams (not shown) for moving into action the lifting pickers, although on a Houseman machine, these lifting pickers are moved into operation by the clutch-carrying frame and are thus only indirectly controlled and timed by the pattern disk. These needle actuating cams and pickers are not herein shown, as they form no part of the present invention and are fully set forth in the Houseman patents of December 5 and 12, 1916, hereinbefore mentioned.

in the drawings, Fig. 1, I have shown some of the cams carried by the pattern disk,

namely: two cams 11, 11, for controlling the pickers for lowering, one by one, or two at a time, the needles of the front bank; two cams 12, 12, for controlling the cam for lifting and lowering the rear bank of needles; three sets of cams 13, 13, 14:, for controlling the yarn carriers (one at the beginning of the heel, one at the beginning of the toe.

and one on the leg) and three cams 15, 15 16 for controlling the clamp and cutter in connection with the three yarn changes specified. The specific location of the cams 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and of the dips in the cam groove 2 are of primary importance, but are difficult to accurately illustrate except in a large working drawing. Each should be so located that it will be rendered operative at aparticular one of the several impulses imparted to the pattern disk at at a given forward movement of pawl y. In viewof the description, hereinafter detailed, of the pattern disk operating mechanism,

' and especially of the cam 50, the skilled.

mechanic will have no difficulty inaccurately positioning the pattern disk cams so as to efi'ect the objects of the invention.

The pawl y is carried on a lever 20 extending from a hub '21 turnable on a post. Hub 21 has also arms 22 and 23. Arm 23' carries a roller 2e engaging a constantly rotating cam50 on the vertical shaft 0. The cam 50, to which reference has hereinbefore been made, is shown in detail in Fig. 7 and is hereinafter more particularly described. Cam 50 moves arm 23 outwardly from the axis of shaft 0, while a spring 25 (when free to act) moves arm 23 inwardly toward the axis of the cam. If spring 25 were con stantly free to act, each rotation of the cam 50 would reciprocate arms 23 and 22, lever 20 and pawl y; and hence the pattern disk w would be actuated at frequent and regular intervals; specifically, once for each turn of the shaft 0,.or once for each complete oscillation back and forth of the oscillatory driving means.

However, whenever arm 23 is moved outward by cam 50 (thus advancing the pawl y to advance pattern disk av), lever 22 engages and displaces the hooked end of one arm of a bell crank lever 26 (see Fig. 6), the latter being immediately returnedto normal position by a spring 27, thereby causing the hooked end of lever 26 to drop back of lever 22 and prevent its return by spring 25.

Pawl y,therefore, is not retracted to engage the next tooth of the pattern disk ratchet until I lever 26 is moved to withdraw its hooked end from back of lever 22.

The withdrawal of lever 26 is efiected by the pattern chain 30, which is driven as follows: on the rotary vertical shaft 0 is a cam 31 embraced by the bifurcated end of anarm 32 on-a hub 33 swiveled on the same post on which hub 21 is swiveled. Hub 33 has an arm 34 that carries a pawl 35 engaging a ratchet 36. This ratchet is sleeved on the outside of the bearing for the main driving shaft and carries a sprocket wheel 37. Pattern chain 30 extends around sprocket wheel 37 and is advanced thereby (say a distance of one-third of a link) at each reciprocation of pawl 35.

Pattern chain 30 carries a series of lugs 38 adapted to actuate lever 26. lNhen, any lug underrides the end of lever 26 adjoining the chain, it lifts lever 26 so as to disengage its hooked end from lever 22, thereby allowing spring 25 to draw arm 23 'agamst the low.

face of cam and retract the pawl y. Cam,

50 then swings lever 23 so as to advance pawl y and ratchet pattern disk 00 forward a distance of one tooth.

Mounted on the bed plate atthe rear of on the pattern disk. This mechanismis more fully described in the said Houseman patents of December 5 and 12, 1916. s One of the vital features of the present invention is the construction or confi'gura tion of the cam 50. By reference to Fig. 7, it will be observed that, starting from the low point of the cam, it is'provided with four distinct cam faces or rises. The first is numbered 51, the second 52, the third 53 and the fourth 541. These rises are connected by concentric portions. It will therefore be understood that, necessarily, the operation of cam 50 upon arms 23 and 20 and pawl y is to impart to the pattern disk w, each time the pawl y ratchets it forward one tooth, four successive impulses.v

Theseveral rises of the cam 50 are so positioned that the pattern disk w receives its first impulse when the oscillatory driving means is about at one of itstwo dead centers its second impulse toward the middle of one oscillation, its third impulse toward the end of such oscillation, and'its fourth impulse at about the opposite dead center. The cams 11 controlling the pickers for successively lowering into action the needles of the front bank are so positioned on-the pattern disk that they are rendered operative, at the middle of the heel ortoe, during, the first impulse imparted to the pattern disk and when the oscillatory driving means is at or near dead center; and hence at the ideal time, as hereinbefore explained. ,The cams 12'controllingthe cam for lifting" and lowering the rear bank of needles,the yarn carrier controlling cams 13, 13, 1 1, and the dips in the cam groove 2 for effecting the clutch shifting operation, are so positioned on -the pattern disk that they are rendered operative during the second impulse, or duringone stroke of the oscillatory drivingmeans. The cam 16 controlling the operation of the clamp and cutter at a yarn'changing operation on the g" V i 1,3,250'

15, 15 controlling the operation of the clamp and cutter at a yarn changing operation in go ng on to theheel and toe are so posltioned on the pattern disk that they are rendered operative during the fourth impulse,

or at or about the other dead center position of the oscil latorydriving means.

'VVhile I have been quite specific in reciting-the exact time of operation of a number of elements controlling the knitting operamama While my invention includes the operation of certain ot'such elements at such precise times, it Willbe understood that my invention has also abroader range, in that, by" a mere alteration in the shape of the controlling camel), or by a diiiefrent positioning of the cams on the pattern disk or itsequivalent, any element'controlling the knitting operation may be rendered active atany desired instantdurin of a stocking and, more specifically, may be rendered activeavhile the oscillatory driving means is at either dead center or at any point in its oscillation.

Having now fully described my invention, What I claim desire to protect by Letters Patent is :1

1. In a circular knitting machine, in- 'c'om bination, a needle cylinder, driving mechanism including rotary driving rneans and oscillatory driving means, shifting mechanism for connecting the needle cylinder With the two driving means alternately, yarn cutting and clamping mechanism, and means to actuate said cutting and clamping mechanism While the oscillatory driving meansjis at approximately .its dead center.

2. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder, driving mechanism including rotary driving means and oscillatory driving means, shifting mechanism for connecting the needle cylinderith the two driving means alternately, yarn clamping and cutting mechanism, andmeans actuated by the rotary drivingmeans to actuate said clamping and cutting'mechanism While the oscillatory driving means is at approximately its dead center;

3. In a circular knitting machine,in com bination, a needle v cylinder, driving mechanism including rotary driving means and oscillatory driving means, shittingmechanism for connectingthe needle cylinder with thetwodriving means alternately, a pattern disk, means actuatedby the rotary driving meansto advance the pattern disk when the oscillatory driving means is about at its dead center, yarn clamping and cutting mechanism, and an element on the pattern disk controlling the operation of the clampingand cutting mechan-ism, said element;

the knitting being so positioned as to be rendered opera ti've'insaid advance movement of the pattern disln I 1 a. In acirc ular knitting ma'chine,in combination, aneedle cylindendriving mechanism including rotary driving means and oscillatory driving means, shitting mechanism for connecting theneedle cylinder With thetvvo dr ving means alternately, a pattern disk, elements thereon controlling respectlvely a change of yarn and 1tsclamp1ng and cutting, and means to. impart to the pattern disk two successiveadvance movements cluring asingle oscillation of he oscillatory drivingmeans, said elements being so POSI- t oned on the pattern disk as to be rendered operative respectively during one stroke 0t said oscillatory driving means and at about 7 the dead center at the endofsuch stroke;

5. In a circular knitting machine, in com bination, a needle cylinder, driving mechanism including rotary driving means and oscillatory driving means, shitting mechanism for connecting the need-le cylin'derwvith the t vo. driving means alternately,[a pattern disk, elements thereon controlling said shift, the lifting of half the needles, the individual needle raising operation and a change of yarn, another element thereon controlling the clamping and cutting of the yarn, and" means to impart to the pattern disk 0 two successive advance movements during a single oscillation of the oscillatory driving means, the first mentioned elements being soiposit'ioned' on the pattern disk as to be rendered operative during one stroke of the oscillatory driving means'andthe last named element being so positioned as tobe renderedoperative at about the dead center at'the end of such stroke. 'c 6; Ina circular knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder, driving mechanism including rotary driving means andoscillatory driving means, shitting mechanism for 'connecting the need-le cylinder with the two driving means alternately, a pattern disk,'means actuated by the rotary driving means to advance the pattern disk during a stroke of the oscillatory dnving means; and also at about the deadtcenter at the end of; a stroke, yarn clamping and cutting mechan sm,- and a plurality of elements on the pattern disk eachcontrolling the operation of the clamping and cl tting mechanism, one

*ofis'aid elementsbeing so positionedfas to be rendered operative, during rotation of-the needle cylinder, on the first named'advance movement ot thepattern disk and another of said elements'being sopositioned asto be rendered operative, at the shift troin on'e driving means to another, on the second named? advance movement of the pattern 7': .lnacircular knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder, drivingmeehanism including rotary driving means and oscillatory driving means, shifting mechanism for connecting the needle cylinder with the two driving means alternately, a pattern disk, elements thereon controlling a change of yarn, elements thereon controlling the clamping and cutting of the yarn, and means to impart to the pattern disk a movement rendering one of the last named elements operative during rotation and a movement rendering the other of the last named elements operative in passing from rotation to oscillation.

' 8. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder, driving mechanism including rotary driving means and oscillatory driving means, shifting mechanism for alternately connecting the two driving means with the needle cylinder, a

pattern disk, means actuated by the rotary driving means to impart to the pattern disk four separate advance movements during a given range of movement of the oscillatory driving means, one of which movements occurs at approximately one dead center of the oscillatory driving mechanism, the second and third 0 which occur during the stroke from one dead center to another, and the fourth of which occurs at approximately the other dead center, four elements on the pattern disk, one of which controls the needle lowering pickers, the second of which controls a change of yarn and the third and fourth of which control the clamping and cutting of the yarn, said four elements being so positioned as to be operable in the respective four movements of the pattern disk. I

9. A circular knitting machine having rotary and oscillatory driving means, shifting mechanism for alternately connecting the two driving means, a yarn feed for the machine when on oscillatory work, a second yarn feed for circular work, means for throwing the one yarn feed into actionand the other out of action when changing from circular work to oscillatory work and from oscillatory to circular Work, a clamp and when shifting from oscillatory work to rotary work to compensate for the difierence in speed between the oscillatory and rotary driving means.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set'my hand,'at Philadelphia, Pa., on this 15th day of September, 1919.

HAROLD- E. HOUSEMAN. 

